CONSULTATION ON RESTRICTIONS ON THE LANDFILLING OF FOOD WASTE Draft Food Waste Regulations (N I) 2013 William Dukelow Environmental Policy Division (EPD)

Food Waste in Northern Ireland 56% of food waste is sent to landfill – 154kt per annum Food waste accounts for 1/3 of all household waste sent to landfill 41% of Households do not have a food waste collection service 36kt of commercial food waste is sent to landfill

“I see tackling food waste as a key priority for my Department. The recently published Waste Management Strategy will provide a range of measures to reduce food waste, from the proposed introduction of food waste restrictions for landfill through to actions within the Waste Prevention Programme.” Mark H Durkan MLA Minister of the Environment

European Context Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) Revision of the Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) EC’s proposals – landfill ban on biodegradable waste by 2025 Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe

Why Intervene in Food Waste? Waste Management Strategy: Delivering Resource Efficiency Reduce food waste arising Maximise recycling levels Meet 2020 Landfill Directive Target for Biodegradable Waste Support the Green Economy Reduce carbon emissions

Tackling Food Waste Landfill Bans: Feasibility Research by WRAP/Eunomia Consultation on the Introduction of Restrictions on the Landfilling of Certain Wastes Re-think Waste What are other jurisdictions doing? –Scotland: Zero Waste Regulation 2012 –Wales: Environment Bill White Paper 2013 –Ireland: Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009 EU (Household Food Waste and Bio-Waste) Regulations 2013

Summary of Proposed Regulatory Measures Separate collection of food waste –Businesses –District Councils Ban on mixing separately collected food waste Ban on landfilling separately collected food waste Ban on the non-domestic discharge of food waste into public sewer network

Food Waste Produced by Businesses Requirement on all food waste producers to present food waste for separate collection Includes food manufacturers, canteens, kitchens, schools, restaurants, supermarkets, shops, offices, factories and hospitals Does not apply to premises where no food is produced on, prepared on or sold from

Food Waste Produced by Businesses Phased approach –1 April businesses producing >50kg food waste per week –1 April businesses producing >5kg food waste per week Exemptions –Businesses producing <5kg food waste per week –Food waste that has arisen from international transport

Household Food Waste District Councils to provide householders with receptacle for separate collection of food waste Exemption to this obligation on district councils may be applied where it is considered not technically, environmentally or economically practicable (TEEP) to provide service Allow co-mingled biowaste collection where it can be demonstrated to deliver equivalent or better environmental outcomes to separate food waste collection 1 April 2016

Mixing Separately Collected Food Waste Ban on mixing separately collected food waste Once food waste has been segregated, it must be managed in a way which does not compromise its quality Ensures that separately collected food waste is not mixed with other wastes or materials in such a way as to hinder future recycling 1 April 2015

Landfill Ban Ban on the landfilling of separately collected food waste It will be an offence for landfill operators to accept separately collected food waste for disposal at their landfill sites 1 April 2015

Discharge of Food Waste into Public Sewer Network Ban on the non-domestic discharge of food waste into public sewer network 1April 2017 Rationale –food waste is managed in accordance with the Waste Hierarchy –the resource value of food waste is realised –in response to detrimental effect food waste is having on public sewer network

Timeline 1 April 2015 Ban on landfilling separately collected food waste Ban on mixing separately collected food waste 1 April 2016 Businesses (medium to large producers) to present food waste for separate collection District Councils to separately collect from households 1 April 2017 Businesses (small producers) to present food waste for separate collection Hospitals to present food waste for separate collection Ban on food waste being discharged in public sewers

Where Will the Food Waste Go? Large proportion of food waste avoidable –separate collection will emphasise this –encourage behavioural change Support the Green Economy –In-Vessel Composting (IVC) –Anaerobic digestion (AD)

Other Issues Enforcement –Environmental Health Officers –NIEA Financial Support Communication and Education

WRAP NI Conference Too Good to Waste: Realising the Value of Food 21 November 2013 – Belfast Metropolitan College CONSULTATION CLOSING DATE 3 rd December 2013 Website: Telephone: